Insulator assembling machine



Jan 16, 1934. J. c. ROBERTSON INSULATOR ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed May 29, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 16, 1934. J. c. ROBERTSON 1,944,134

INSULATOR ASSEMBLING MACHINE I Fil May 2 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WEE i "Haw-Iii Patented Jan. 16, 1934 UNITED STATES INSULATOR ASSEMBLING MACHINE John Cullen Robertson, Annapolis, Md., assignor to Locke Insulator Corporation,

Baltimore,

Md., a corporation of Maryland Application May 29, 1930. Serial No. 457,483

14 Claims.

The invention relates to machines for assembling the parts of suspension insulators of the cap and pin type.

It is well known that there is a very common type of insulator comprising a dielectric body formed with an upstanding stem upon which a metal cap is cemented, and also formed in its underside with a recess extending up into the neck or stem for the reception of a pin which is cemented in place. Ordinarily the parts of such insulators are placed in position by hand and cemented. It is not always easy to produce, manually, the proper amount of pressure to insure flowing of the cement into all portions of the cap and the recess which receives the pin and the result is that there may be air pockets left in the cement which impair the efiiciency of the insulator. Furthermore, when the caps are of the clevis type the pin should be in such position that its rectangular projecting end will be in line with the clevis. This is not always such a simple matter. Furthermore the question of centering the pin properly arises.

It is with the above facts in view that I have devised the present invention which has for an important object the provision of a machine by means of which a metal cap may be pressed into place and by which the pin may subsequently be inserted in proper position within the recess intended for its accommodation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine for this purpose in which the pressure applying parts or metal part holding means may be rotated simultaneously with the application of pressure so as to puddle the cement and cause it to reach all parts of the cavity in the cap and the recess in the porcelain body, this action facilitating the expulsion of any entrapped air so that pockets or minus spots will be avoided.

The invention has for another object the provision of a machine by means of which the pin may be absolutely centered with respect to the recess for its reception and which is further equipped with means whereby the pin will be fixed in line with the clevis of the cap.

Still another object is to provide an apparatus of this type in which the two necessary chucks for holding the metal parts of the insulator are interchangeable so that only one pressure applying means is necessary for carrying out both of the specified operations.

An additional object is to provide a machine of this character which will be simple and inexpensive to make, easy to use, positive and rapid in action, efficient and durable in service, and a general improvement in the art.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects and advantages, the invention preferably consists in the details of construction and the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter in fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my machine, with parts in section, showing it arranged for applying a cap upon an insulator,

Figure 2 is a cross section taken onthe line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the mechanism for inserting the pin in the recess in the insulator, parts of this view being likewise in section.

Figure 4 is a vertical detail section taken on the line 44 of Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is a detail cross section taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the numeral 10 designates a suitable support which might be a wall, partition,.post, column or anything else of a similar nature. In carrying out my invention I provide a shelf 11 suitably secured upon the support 10 and adapted to hold the insulator during the operation of assembling the parts. This shelf is disclosed as provided centrally with a threaded hole 12 within which is screwed a bolt 13 which constitutes means for temporarily holding upon the shelf the insulator to be worked upon. Also mounted on the support 10 in vertical spaced relation to the shelf 11 is a guide bracket 14 through which is slidable a piston rod or shaft 15 adapted to be moved downwardly by steam, hydraulic or other pressure means though it is conceivable that any other operative mechanism might be provided for moving this rod, such details being really immaterial as it is simply intended that the movement of this rod be utilized for applying pressure to the parts as they are being assembled. Also mounted on the support is a fixed angular bracket 16 beneath which and in spaced relation thereto is an arm 17 pivoted at 18 upon a bracket 19 and intended to be used for pin centering purposes. A stop 20 is provided adjacent the arm 17 for the purpose of limiting its swinging movement in one direction.

The means for applying the metal cap A upon the upstanding stem B of the insulator body 0 is shown as comprising a cup-like or socket member 21 which is preferably cylindrical in shape and of a size to receive and entirely enclose the cap. The open end of this cup memher is preferably internally beveled at 22 to facilitate insertion of the cap Within it and to insure centering of the cap. As the cap is here disclosed as being of the clevis type, that is provided with spaced ears D at its top, I have shown the closed end wall of the cup member as provided with a guide member 23 fitting between the ears and operating to prevent relative rotation of the cap and cup. The intention is that this cup member be detachably mounted upon the rod 15 in such manner that it may be capable of rotation thereon and the necessary connection may simply consist of a threaded end 24 on the rod screwed into a suitably tapped hole 25 in the cup member. Projecting laterally or radialiy from the cup member I preferably provide handles 26 for a purpose to be described.

In the operation of applying the cap to the insulator body, the insulator must be supported beneath the cap to be placed in position and this may be done very readily by placing it upon a mandrel or block 27 which is in turn held in place by the bolt 13 which is screwed through the shelf 11. This will maintain the insulator body in coaxial relation to the rod or shaft 15. The cap is slipped into the cup member where it will be held by frictional engagement with the open end, a measure of cement is placed within the cap, and the cup member screwed onto the rod 15. A paper or other suitable gasket E is placed about the upstanding stem of the insulator body and rests upon the top surface thereof au the base of the stem. Usually the upstanding stem is also initially provided with a coating of hot asphalt or the like though this is a detail. Assuming that the above preparations have been made, the rod 15 is forced downwardly by whatever pressure means is applied for the purpose so as to bring the cap A down on to the stem 3. During this movement it is intended that the operator grasp the handles 26 and oscillate the cup member and cap together so as to puddle the cement and drive out any entrapped air so as to insure the cement filling all the space within the cap. Considerable pressure may be applied without causing any injury to the insulator body. Any surplus cement will of course be forced out at the bell or open end of the cap. The plunger operated rod is then elevated so as to remove the cup member from the cap subsequently to which the insulator with the cap applied is steamed in the usual manner to effect proper setting of the cement.

For inserting and securing the pin F within the recess G in the underside of the insulator body a different attachment must be used in addition to the cup member above described and the cup member must be differently positioned. For carrying out this operation I make use of the mechanism shown in Figures 3 to 5 constituting a chuck device for holding the pin and maintaining it in the proper centered relation to the insulator. This chuck device replaces the cup member, that is to say it is carried by the rod 15. This part of the apparatus comprises a transverse member 28 having a threaded socket 29 screwed onto the threaded end 24 of the rod 15. The ends of the cross member 28 are di closed as bifurcated, and pivoted therein at 30 are jaws 31 adapted to receive the pin between them and to clamp it firmly in place. The means for operating these jaws preferably comprises a lever 32 mounted on a rock shaft 33 on which are eccentrics 34 engaged within suitable openings in the inner ends of links 35 which are pivotally connected at their outer ends, as shown at 36, with the intermediate portions of the jaws. These links 0 erate between side plates 37 which effectually guide them.

The operation of inserting the pin in the insulator is as follows: The insulator to which the cap has been secure as above described is again engaged with the cup member which is inverted, placed upon the shelf 11 and secured by the bolt or screw 13 which engages within the threaded hole 25. A suitable quantity of cement is then placed within the recess G. The chuck device comprising the parts 28 to 37 is then mounted on the rod 15 by screwing the transverse member 28 onto the threaded lower end thereof and the lever 32 is moved so that the eccentrics thereon will move the links 35 apart and separate the jaws 31 so that the operator may place the pin F between the jaws, subsequently to which the lever 32 is moved to draw the links 35 together and bring the jaws into clamping engagement with the pin. As it is desirable that the flattened and apertured end of the pin which is to project beyond the insulator for connection with the next unit in a string should be in line with the space between the ears D, I preferably provide a set screw 38 threaded through a bracket 39 on the shelf 11 and engaging within a recess or depression 40 in the exterior of the cup member as clearly shown in Figure 3. To center the pin properly with respect to the recess G, the arm 1''! is then swung from its normally inoperative position adjacent the support 10 into an outwardly projecting position, as shown in Figure 5, so that a notch 41 therein will engage against the shank of the pin. The stop 20 cooperates with the arm so that it cannot be swung too far. After these preparations have been made and the cement placed within the recess, pressure is applied by any suitable means to the rod 15 so that the pin will be moved downwardly into the insulator. It is intended that the operator oscillate or rotate the chuck device back and forth during this movement so as to puddle the cement. After the pin is in place the chuck device is opened by means of the lever 32 and moved upwardly out of obstructing relation to the insulator, and the insulator is removed and placed at some convenient location while the cement sets.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings, it will be apparent that I have thus provided a very simple machine by means of which insulator caps and pins may be quickly and easily as well as accurately applied. Ample provision has been made for centering the parts and there is practically nothing left to the judgment of the mechanic so that a large number of insulators may be assembled and all be uniform in every way. It is believed that the construction, operation and advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art without further explanation.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that the disclosure is merely an exemplification of the principles involved as the right is reserved to make all such changes in the details of construction as will widen the field of utility and increase the adaptability of the device provided such changes constitute no departure from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A machine for assembling an insulator of the type having metal parts, comprising a stationary support, means for temporarily mounting the insulator thereon, a vertically movable pressure applying device, and means carried by I said pressure applying device for holding the metal part to be connected with the insulator, said means conforming to the character of the respective metal parts and being interchangeable.

2. A machine for assembling an insulator of the type having metal parts, comprising a stationary support, means for temporarily mounting the insulator thereon, a vertically movable pressure applying device, and means carried by said pressure applying device for holding the metal part to be connected with the insulator, said means being rotatable with respect to the pressure applying device.

3. A machine for assembling an insulator of the type having metal parts, comprising a stationary support, means for temporarily mounting the insulator thereon, a vertically movable pressure applying device, means carried by said pressure applying device for holding the metal part to be connected with the insulator, and means for preventing relative rotation of said means and the metal part held thereby.

4. In an insulator assembling machine, means for supporting an insulator body, means for holding a cap in coaxial relation to the body, and means for moving said cap into engagement with the insulator and applying pressure thereto.

5. A machine for assembling an insulator of the type having a cap and pin at opposite sides thereof, comprising a stationary support, means for temporarily mounting an insulator thereon in-a selected position, a pressure applying device movable axially with respect to the insulator, means engageable upon said pressure applying device for holding a cap and applying the same to the insulator, and other means engageable upon said pressure applying device for holding the pin.

6. A machine for assembling insulators of the cap and pin type, comprising a stationary support, means for temporarily mounting the insulator body thereon, a pressure applying device guidably carried by the support and movable axially with respect to the insulator, and selectively usable means detachably connected with the pressure applying device for holding a cap and a pin.

7. A machine for assembling insulators of the cap and pin type comprising a stationary support, means for temporarily mounting an insulator body thereon in normal position, a vertically movable pressure applying device guidably carried by the support and movable axially with respect to the insulator, and a cup member detachably and rotatably mounted on said pressure applying device and adapted to hold a cap to be applied to the insulator body.

8. A machine for assembling insulators of the cap and pin type comprising a stationary support, means for temporarily mounting an insulator body thereon in normal position, a vertically movable pressure applying device guidably carried by the support and movable axially with respect to the insulator, a cup member detachably and rotatably mounted on said pressure applying device and adapted to hold a cap to be applied to the insulator body, and handle means on the cup member for effecting back and forth rotary movement thereof during longitudinal movement of the pressure applying device.

9. A machine for assembling insulators of the cap and pin type comprising a stationary support, means for temporarily mounting thereon an insulator body in inverted position, a vertically arranged pressure applying device guidably carried by the support and movable axially with respect to the insulator, and chuck means detachably and rotatably carried by said pressure applying device for holding a pin to be inserted within the insulator.

10. In an insulator assembling machine, means for supporting an insulator body, a pressure applying device guidably mounted and movable axially with respect to the insulator, chuck means carried by said pressure applying device for holding a pin to be inserted within the insulator body, and means for effecting centering of the pin with respect to the body.

11. In an insulator assembling machine, means for supporting an insulator body, a pressure applying device guidably mounted and movable axially with respect to the insulator, chuck means carried by said pressure applying device for holding a pin to be inserted within the insulator body, and means for efiecting centering of the pin with respect to the body comprising a guide adapted to be engaged by the pin for properly positioning the same.

12. In an insulator assembling machine, means for supporting an insulator body, a pressure applying device guidably mounted and movable axially with respect to the insulator, chuck means carried by said pressure applying device for holding a pin to be inserted within the insulator body, and means for effecting centering of the pin with respect to the body comprising a guide adapted to be engaged by the pin for properly positioning the same, said guide being movably mounted and shiftable into non-obstructing relation to the pin.

13. In an insulator assembling machine, means for supporting an insulator body, a pressure applying device guidably mounted and movable axially with respect to the insulator, chuck means carried by said pressure applying 120 device for holding a pin to be inserted within the insulator body, means for efiecting centering of the pin with respect to the body comprising a guide adapted to be engaged by the pin for properly positioning the same, said guide being 125 pivotally mounted for horizontal swinging movement and being swingable out of obstructing relation to the pin, and means normally maintaining the guide in operative relation to the pin.

14. A machine for assembling an insulator of the cap and pin type, comprising means for temporarily supporting an insulator body, a pressure applying member movable axially with respect to the body, and a chuck device carried 135 by said pressure applying member for holding a pin preparatory to its insertion within the insulator body, the chuck device comprising a main supporting member, arms pivoted thereto and adapted to grip the pin, a rotatable operating handle, and links connected with the handle and said arms for moving the latter toward or from each other into or out of gripping relation to the pin.

JOHN CULLEN ROBERTSON. 

